M : Yes, I am, unluckily. So… I wish I could enjoy springtime in the open air, but I can’t.

C : I wish I could, right.

M : now listen to this song: “how I wish, how I wish you were here”

C : Pink Floyd, great song. “how I wish you were here”, again, we use the simple past to talk about the present situation. I wish you were here right now. Can you think of another example?

M : I wish I was taller!

C: com’on, you’re not that short!

M : but I’m not tall either. I wish I was taller.

C : You can also say: I wish I were taller. I WISH I WAS, I WISH I WERE, both forms are correct. I wish I were is more formal. So… for example… it’s overcast today. I wish it was sunny, or I wish it were sunny.

M : Got it.

C : Now let’s talk about past regrets. Like in: I wish my team had won the championship. That means: my team didn’t win. I wish it had.

M : we use the past perfect here.

C : past perfect, good. For example: I wish I had chosen another school when I was in my teens”. Or: I wish you had told me about it before”.

M : we can also use “IF ONLY” instead of wish, correct?

C : Yes. Using the past perfect when talking about past regrets : If only I had chosen another school when I was in my teens! Or : if only you had told me about it before! And using the simple past when talking about the present situation: if only I was taller! If only I lived in Nashville !

M : or : If only I had more time to study English! That is: I wish I had more time to study English!

C : perfect!

C: Well, friends, that’s all for now. We wish you the best of luck in your English journey and we hope that you can find enough time to listen to our podcast and practise the language! Previous episodes are available for download on Podomatic and iTunes.